Cancer science
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Information regarding rituximab monotherapy with eight weekly infusions for relapsed or refractory indolent B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), in particular for patients pretreated with rituximab, is limited. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of eight doses of rituximab monotherapy, 52 patients with relapsed or refractory indolent B-NHL were enrolled in the present study. Forty of 45 eligible patients (89%) had follicular lymphoma and 24 (53%) were at intermediate or high risk group according to the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index. ⋯ Two patients developed Grade 4 late-onset neutropenia and a decrease (>50%) in serum immunoglobulin was observed in six patients. In conclusion, rituximab monotherapy with eight weekly infusions is effective in relapsed patients with indolent B-NHL, with acceptable toxicities, including in patients pretreated with rituximab; however, careful monitoring is recommended for infections associated with late-onset neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia. (University Hospital Medical Information Network no. UMIN000002974.)